Tag Archives: plastic food storage containers

When looking for ways to clean and organize your manufacturing facility, or your home, you have many options from which to choose. One of these options is the use of plastic storage bins. However, while these bins can offer a wide array of benefits to those who use them, there are some instances when they might not make the most sense. In this article, I will discuss a few of the reasons why you might not want to use plastic storage bins, and why another alternative might make more sense for you.

Cheap Plastic Storage Bins Aren’t Necessarily The Cheapest Option

Sure, things that are made out of plastic have a reputation for being cheap. However, plastic storage bins are not always the least expensive option in some instances. If you are storing things around your house, then you might want to consider cardboard boxes instead of plastic storage bins, as they are usually less expensive. Of course, this is true as long as the boxes are being kept in a climate-controlled environment, and they aren’t going to be moved around a whole lot. So, if you’re tight on money and are just looking to organize things around the house, then cardboard containers might be your better bet.

An Assortment Of Plastic Storage Bins From FlexContainer.com

Plastic Storage Bins Are Not The Most Environmentally-Friendly Option

If one of your main concerns happens to be the protection of the environment, then you might want to look toward another storage option. This is because plastic storage bins are not biodegradable. If you throw them away, then they will sit in a landfill for the rest of eternity. It may also cause animals to ingest some of the plastic, causing them problems. If you’re looking for something that is biodegradable, then you might want to look to cardboard boxes instead. It should also be mentioned that while most plastics can be recycled, the process is somewhat complicated due to the many different plastics that are currently on the market. In order for plastics to be recycled, they must first be sorted by the type of plastic, which can present a headache in itself. It is much easier to recycle things that are made out of glass or tin. Also, if you want the ultimate in reusable, then go with a metal storage bin that’s made out of aluminum or stainless steel. It should also be mentioned that virtually all plastics are derived from petrochemicals, so if you have a moral objection to the use of fossil fuels, then you might want to look elsewhere for your storage options. Perhaps, glass might be the thing for you.

Not As Durable As Other Options

If you need your storage containers to be able to handle a lot of abuse, then you might not want to go with plastic storage boxes, because they’re not quite as durable as aluminum or stainless steel containers. Metal storage bins are stronger and more impact resistant than their plastic counterparts.

Plastic Isn’t So Good In High-Temperature Environments

If you need something that is going to be used in extremely high-temperature environments, like baking in an oven, then don’t use plastic storage bins. Most plastics will melt at temperatures of 350 degrees Fahrenheit and above. At high temperatures that are lower than that, most plastics will at least warp, and may discolor over time. If you need dimensional stability at high temperatures, then you should consider metal storage bins.

If you need a storage option for keeping food, then you may want to exercise caution when dealing with plastic food storage containers. That is because many plastics contain chemicals like phthalates and bisphenol-A, that have been linked to cancer and other health problems. The concern with these plastics is that the chemicals will leach out of the plastic and into the food, which could then make the user sick. In food storage, plastic storage bins that are made from polystyrene, polycarbonate, and PVC should be avoided for this very reason. If you have to use a plastic container for food storage, then polypropylene is very safe for you to use. If you need something that will work at all times in food storage applications, then you should probably go with stainless steel containers.

Higher costs than cardboard, less durability than metal storage bins, the presence of potentially harmful chemicals, and not being biodegradable are just a few of the reasons why you might not want to use plastic storage bins. Before selecting any storage option, carefully evaluate the benefits and the drawbacks of each option as they apply to you.

You are currently in the market for some storage options that you can use to help clean and organize your home or your place of business. Among the many storage options that are available are plastic storage boxes, and you are thinking about purchasing some of them for your use. However, before you run out and buy some of these storage containers, there are a number of considerations that you need to take into account in order to insure that you get the best plastic storage boxes for your particular needs. In this article, I will discuss some of the most important considerations that you should be thinking about prior to making a purchase.

How Will Your Plastic Storage Boxes Be Used?

One of the most important considerations involves exactly what the boxes will be used for. This will help to dictate what type of plastic storage boxes will be best for you, and whether you should even buy plastic storage boxes at all. For instance, if you intend to use these storage boxes for food storage, then you would do well to avoid plastic food storage containers that are made from polystyrene, polycarbonate, and PVC. This is because these particular plastics contain chemicals that have the potential to leach out of the plastic and into your food, possibly causing you health problems later on. When it comes to food storage, polypropylene containers will probably do you the most justice. If you plan to use these containers in high-temperature applications, like baking, then you shouldn’t be using plastic storage boxes at all, because they’ll probably melt. Also, if you’re going to be storing your items in a climate-controlled environment, then cardboard boxes might be able to get the job done at a significantly lower price.

The Size Of The Items Being Stored

You need to pay special attention to the sizes of the items that you intend to store, as this will usually dictate the size of box that you need to use. You need to select a plastic storage box that is of an appropriate size for the item that you are storing. For instance, if you’re storing small items like jewelry, then you should probably buy a smaller box. If you’re storing clothing or power tools, then you should consider a larger box. You want to use a box that is big enough to store your items, but not so big that some of the items get lost inside the box. When purchasing your plastic storage boxes, it is imperative that you know for sure that the boxes will be the right size, as many stores will not accept returns or offer refunds. You also need to make sure that the boxes will fit in the area that you have allotted for them. You may want to consider buying collapsible plastic storage boxes that can be folded up when not in use. There are also plastic storage boxes that can be stacked within each other in a space-saving arrangement.

Collapsible Plastic Storage Boxes From TradeKey.com

Consider The Shape Of The Box

You should also pay attention to the shape of the box. You need to make sure that the items that you intend to store will fit within the shape of the box. Remember that square and rectangular plastic storage boxes will hold more things than round storage boxes. It should also be mentioned that boxes of certain shapes will fit better on shelving than other shapes.

Color

You need to decide whether the color of the boxes in question is important to you. With plastic storage boxes of many different colors, you can create a system of color-coded storage, where people will associate every item with a certain color and then go to the box of that particular color and find what they’re looking for. Plastic storage boxes of many different colors can really brighten up a room if they are kept on shelving in a prominent part of the room. You might also want to consider clear plastic storage boxes, as clear boxes will allow you to view the contents of the box without having to open up the box and dig through it in order to find what you’re looking for.

You can have your plastic storage boxes customized with a number of different features. For instance, you can get plastic storage boxes with dividers that will allow you to sort items that are kept within the same box. An example of this would be a fishing tackle box, where you can separate hooks and sinkers by size. The storage of nuts and bolts would be another good example of using dividers. You might also want to consider plastic storage boxes with wheels that you can move around easily. This can be very important if you’re storing a bunch of heavier items.

How Much Can You Afford?

Cost is another very important factor when deciding what or how many plastic storage boxes to buy. Remember that as mentioned before, cardboard boxes are a lower cost alternative if you intend to keep your items in a climate-controlled area. You should also keep in mind that in general, bigger boxes will cost more than smaller ones. If you need to buy a lot of plastic storage boxes, then you may want to consider some of the large industrial suppliers that offer bulk pricing. You might even want to visit your local thrift store or salvage shop, where you can get many useful items for just pennies on the dollar. Another thing that you might want to consider is the fact that many plastic storage containers that are lying around your house can be re-purposed. For instance, an old milk jug or an old plastic coffee container might be able to help you store some of your smaller items, possibly eliminating the need for you to have to go out and buy so many storage containers.

How they will be used, the size and shape of the box, the color of the box, the presence of add-ons, and cost considerations are just a few of the many considerations that you need to take into account when purchasing plastic storage boxes. If you take the time to carefully consider each of these factors, then you will be less likely to regret your purchase later on.

Plastic storage boxes are used in just about every walk of life, from storing items like food and clothing around the house to storing raw materials in a manufacturing facility. In order to get the most out of your plastic storage boxes, you need to keep them clean. In this article, I will discuss a number of different ways by which you can clean your plastic storage boxes, so that you can get more life out of them, along with ways that you can get rid of stubborn stains.

Plastic Storage Boxes Are Easy To Clean In Most Cases

In most cases, plastic storage boxes can be cleaned easily by scrubbing them with a cloth or a synthetic sponge in warm, soapy water. Rinse the boxes thoroughly to flush out all soap particles. When you do this, do not use a metal scraper or a steel wool pad, as these items might damage the surfaces of the box and leave behind plastic and metal particles. This is extremely important, especially if these plastic storage boxes are going to be used as plastic food storage containers. You don’t want metal particles to end up in your food. Once you’ve done this, you can dry them off with a dry cloth or put them in a dish drainer where they can air dry. Remember that the box is only as clean as the towel that you use to dry it. It is quite odd, given how simple it is to clean most plastic storage boxes, that a lot of people will simply opt to throw the boxes away once they get dirty. This is a shame, because you can save money and reduce the amount of garbage that your household generates by just taking a couple of minutes to clean your plastic storage boxes so that they can be reused.

Ways To Get Rid Of Stubborn Stains On Plastic Storage Boxes

Dish Soap

Most stains on plastic storage boxes can be eliminated by simply covering the stains with dish soap and letting the box sit for about 30 minutes. This should allow enough time for the soap to get into the pores of the plastic and get rid of the stain. For soap, I prefer using Dawn or Palmolive-brand antibacterial dish soap. Once you’ve done that, just scrub the container with a soft cloth and thoroughly rinse it out.

Chlorine Bleach

You can also immerse the plastic storage container in a mixture of warm water and chlorine bleach. When doing this, use one tablespoon of bleach for every one cup of warm water in order for the bleach to have the right amount of potency. Let the container soak for about 45 minutes, and then rinse it out until all of the bleach is gone. For bleach, although the Clorox brand has a lot of brand recognition, bleach is a commodity product. So, I prefer to use the Great Value brand that can be purchased at Wal-Mart for a lot less money. However, I wouldn’t recommend using this method if you are using the container for food storage.

Great Value Bleach From Wal-Mart

Oven Cleaner

You can also get rid of really stubborn stains by using oven cleaner. However, before you try to use oven cleaner to remove stains on your plastic storage containers, you need to make sure that you are doing it in a well-ventilated area. You might even want to go outdoors in order to do this due to the fumes. When using oven cleaner, just cover the stain with the oven cleaner, and let it set for the recommended amount of time. This will vary from one oven cleaner to the next, so you need to read the instructions that are on the bottle. Once the container has set for the recommended amount of time, you can scrub the container with a cloth or sponge to remove the oven cleaner. Once you’ve removed the oven cleaner, you can wash the plastic storage box like you normally would, with warm, soapy water. When doing the final cleaning, do not use the same cloth that you used to remove the oven cleaner. For oven cleaners, I prefer to use the EASY-OFF brand.

Easy-Off Heavy Duty Oven Cleaner – Picture From Lunch.com

Baking Soda

If none of the above methods have worked for you in getting rid of those tough stains, then try using a mixture of baking soda and hot water. Fill the container with the mix and just let it sit for about an hour. After that, you can wash the container like you normally would without the stains. This method works best on stains that come from acidic substances like tea or tomato juice. It also works well on stains that come from substances like fat or grease. This is because the baking soda neutralizes the acid within the stain as it breaks the stain down. Like bleach, baking soda is a commodity product as just about any brand will do. I prefer the Arm & Hammer brand myself, but you can save money by purchasing a store brand.

By using one or more of the above methods to keep your plastic storage boxes clean, you can get more useful life out of them, requiring you to purchase fewer replacement boxes, and reducing the amount of trash that gets discarded into our environment.

Plastic and glass are both widely used for the purpose of food storage containers. For a long time now, there has been an ongoing debate over which type of food storage containers is better for you. Some are big fans of the plastic food storage containers, while others are proponents of the conventional glass food storage containers. As the debate rages on, this article will provide you with a breakdown of the advantages that come with owning each type of food storage container so that you can decide which type is best for use in your home.

There are a number of advantages of owning plastic food storage containers versus glass food storage containers. First, plastic food storage containers are cheaper to buy than their glass counterparts. This could come into play if you need to buy a lot of food storage containers. Food grade plastic storage containers are lighter than their glass counterparts, so they are easier to move around. Clear plastic food storage containers have comparable optical clarity to glass food storage containers, but they won’t shatter like glass will. This is one of the main reasons why plastic food storage containers are a good option when you are taking your meals to work. Many plastic food storage containers are collapsible (especially bowls) or have other space-saving features built into their designs. Some plastic food storage containers are built with individual compartments within the containers, where multiple food items can be stored. Most glass food storage containers do not have this feature. Many plastic food storage containers are designed for one-time use and subsequent disposal, which is good if you don’t have any storage space available. Of course, it’s not so good for the environment. Plastic food storage containers with lids are available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, much more so than glass food storage containers.

There are also some disadvantages of plastic food storage containers when compared to glass food storage containers. Glass food storage containers can be put into the oven. Plastic food storage containers would melt in the oven under high heat. You’ll never see a plastic casserole dish. Glass is more aesthetically appealing. You probably don’t want to put plastic food storage containers on your dinner table when you are having guests over. They would just look really tacky for that type of occasion. Plastic food storage containers tend to absorb food flavors. This can cause food that is kept inside the container to take on the flavor of the food that was in there before it. This, of course is due to the porous nature of the plastic. Glass does not have this problem. The porous nature of the plastic also makes plastic food storage containers harder to clean, as bacteria often gets trapped inside the pores. When using glass food storage containers, there is no need to worry about the possibility of potentially harmful chemicals leaching into your food, especially when the container is being microwaved. Under heat, the chemicals in some plastics can leach out into the food. Some plastics contain the chemical, bisphenol-A, which is a hormone disruptor that has been linked to certain types of cancer. Glass food storage containers are better for the environment as they last significantly longer than plastic food storage containers, are easier to recycle, and don’t give off as many chemicals during the manufacturing process. Because they last longer, glass food storage containers are better on your pocketbook over time.

Now that you know some of the primary advantages of both plastic food storage containers and glass food storage containers, you should be able to make a better decision regarding which is most suitable for you.